Means for verifying the correctness of recording operations



A. J. PRUES MEANS FOR VERIRYINQ THE CORRECTNESS OF RECORDING OPERATIONS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1931 hN VN INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

A. J. PRUES Sept. 7, 1937.

MEANS FOR VERIFYING THE CORRECTNESS OF RECORDING OPERATIONS 2Sheets-Sheet? Filed Dec. 26, 1931 INVENTOR.

)LLLLO ATToRNEm.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR VERIFYING THECORRECTNESS OF RECORDING OPERATIONS 11 Claims.

My invention relates to means for checking up the operations of personswho are making periodical records, and it is of particular uselilness indetermining the accuracy of such o cr ations when performed by personswho are at the same time receiving or disbursing money in a series ofindividual transactions. My invention will be described in connectionwith an installation to Verify the accuracy of persons who take toll,particularly upon a toll bridge, or the like; but it will be understood,without special description, that my invention is applicable to othersituations with or without modification, and that modifications, withinthe province of those skilled in the art, may be made without departingfrom the scop of my invention.

In the exemplary installation hereinabove re-- ferred to, a toll bridgehaving a series of different characters of vehicles passing thereover,is equipped with certain collection booths located in positions ofconvenient access to the various traffic lanes of the bridge. A numberof toil gatherers are located in these booths. There is a differentialin the toll charged for vehicles of different types, the several tollshowever, being related, in this instance, to a series of relativelysmall whole numbers. As an illustration of the price differentialaforesaid, the toll over this bridge for a two or three passengerpleasure automobile is ten cents, whereas the toll for a five passengerpleasure automobile is fifteen cents. Registering mechanisms,conveniently in the form of cash registers, are located the severalbooths. The toll gatherer, hereinafter referred to as the operator,accepts from the driver of each vehicle the proper amount of toll,making change as may be necessary; and, de-- positing this toll in asuitable receptacle, he rings up upon the cash register the amount oftoll, which likewise is an indication of the actor of the vehicle. Thecash registersrnay be specially built for this use, and will preferablyhave a series of keys of the particular amounts of the regular tolls. Anexemplary type cash register adapted for this purpose has i 5 one ofthem marked special, and r marked in various amounts, ranging from fivecents to fifty cents, and progressing from five to thirty cents byintervals of five cents, the remaining two keys being markedrespectively forty cents and fifty cents.

The object of my invention, as applied to this situation, is theprovision of means for check- ,ing up upon the accuracy of the variousoperators. Preferably each operator his cash register, or where morethan one operator located in a single booth, there may be a cashregister having a separate set of keys for each operator, so that theactivities of each operator may be separately recorded. It follows,since it is usual for one operator to take the toll of all of thetraffic in a single lane, that the cash register record for eachoperator is supposed not only to represent a full account of thatoperators activity during a specified period, but also, in terms of tollrates, a record of the num ber and character of the vehicles which havepassed in that operators traffic lane.

An object of my invention is to provide means for the discovery ofinaccuracy upon the operators part, either intentional or unintentional,particularly such inaccuracy as results in the making of a false recordof the toll amounts gathered. It will be clear that such a false recordis likewise a false record of the number and character of vehicles whichhave passed; and it follows from this that if means are provided for theexternal checking of the amounts registered against the kind of vehiclespassing, inaccuracy can be readily detected. Furthermore, if an externalrecord is kept of the kind of vehicles passing, it will be competent forthe management of the bridge to insist that this record correspond tothe record made upon the register, and also that the amount of tollturned in by each operator shall be equivalent to the amount of tollindicated by said external record.

To these ends, it is an object of my invention to provide means locatedat an external point, which means indicate the type of record made bythe operator. Said external point will be so located that another personmay therefrom observe the character of vehicle passing at the time therecord is made. Since said perso is 40 concealed from the operator, sothat said oper-- ator does not know whether he is being checked. up onor not, he will be under considerable pressure to make accurate records.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for making a separaterecord at a remote point, which record must coincide with the recordmade on the register.

More particularly it is an object of my invention to provide means inconnection with the register to indicate at said remote point eachindividual transaction recorded thereon, which means shall not be liableto falsification at the point where the recording is done.

Consequently a more specific object of my invention is the provision ofmeans which may be attached to a cash register, or the like machine,which means will produce a series of electrical or other impulsesrepresenting the record made on the register. It is my object to providemeans of this character which are positive in their operation and notliable to be falsified.

In the particular installation referred to, a series of booths arelocated near one end of the bridge. Substantially abreast of saidbooths, but to the side of the bridge, there is located a bridge office.A room in said office overlooking the bridge is provided with a shutter,through which a person may observe the traihc passing on the bridge, andmeans are provided to signal to said person the recording made by theoperator. Said person can check visually the accuracy of this recording,so that it is not possible for the operator to record one kind ofvehicle as another and keep the difference in toll between the amountspayable upon the said two kinds of vehicles.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forthhereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon readingthese specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction andarrangement of parts of which I shall now describe a preferredembodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a cash register with myrecording means attached.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, the cover being removed from mysignalling mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my mechanism with which is combined acircuit diagram and an indication of a recording device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plunger of my signalling mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the plunger socket of mysignalling mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the plug which is used to mount theplunger in the socket.

One of the problems solved by me is the provision of a convenient,inexpensive but accurate device for attachment to a registering device.

t is possible to make a cash register with internal mechanism, wherebythe depressing of a key will complete an appropriate electrical circuit.Such registers are, in the first place, somewhat difiicult and expensiveto construct, and in the second place, are not adapted to the recordingof great numbers of transactions. In the particular situation referredto, the number of transactions is so large that the length of life of acash register is relatively short. Consequently it is not economical toconstruct a more expensive register having a built-in mechanism forelectrical recording; and as a consequence I prefer to provide externalelectrical signalling means for bodily attachment to a cash register,which means have a great length of life, so that they may be used withsucceeding registers, and are also removable for replacement or repair.

I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a register having a body 8, which is ofsemi-circular shape forwardly. From the semi-circular portion of thebody a series of the usual keys 2 project. My signalling device isadapted for direct attachment to the body of the register adjacent theline of keys, and has been indicated broadly in Fig. 1 by the numeral 3.It will be clear that my invention is not restricted to use uponregisters having semicircular front portions, and it will likewise beobvious from what follows that the shape of my signalling device may bevaried to cause it to conform and to adapt it to the bodies of registersof different shapes.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, my signalling device comprises a base l,preferably of insulating material, since if so made, special means forinsulating the several other parts need not be employed. This plate maybe curved, or otherwise formed to fit the face of the register to whichit will be applied. To the forward edge of this plate I attach a bar ofmetal 5, similarly curved. It is my object to clamp between this bar andthe base plate 3 a plurality of plunger sockets hereinafter to bedescribed, and which essentially fit in holes indicated at 5 in Fig. 2.In effecting this construction, it is competent to make the bar 5 in theform of a plate and to separate it from the base 4 by means ofinterspaced plugs of the same or of another material, the spaces betweenthe plugs serving to accommodate the sockets hereinafter to bedescribed; or the member 5 may be in the form of a thick bar orelongated block of metal machined so as to have grooves therein for thereception of said plunger sockets. In Fig. 3 a plunger socket l is shownas lying between a portion of the bar 5 and the base plate l.

The member 5 has, either integral therewith or as a separate piecegrazed or otherwise fastened thereto, a rigid member 8, which is drilledand tapped at the proper intervals to receive the set screws 9. Theseserve to fasten the plunger sockets l rigidly in place. The bar 5 may befastened to the base plate by means of screws or bolts it, or otherwise,as desired.

The plunger mechanisms comprise a socket l illustrated in Fig. 5, whichsocket is conveniently made in the form of a short, rectangular piece ofmetal having a central circular bore l I. This bore does not extendentirely through the socket, one end thereof being closed by a portionof the metal as at l2, which portion however, is perforated by arectangular hole l3, through which a portion of the plunger next to bedescribed may slide. threaded as at I l to receive a plug indicated atE5 in Fig. 6. This plug is likewise threaded as at it, and is providedwith a rectangular perforation H, which, however, is preferably narrowerthan the perforation l3. A plunger illustrated in Fig. 4 is nextprovided, and comprises a shank i8, preferably of rectangular shape andterminating in a larger rectangular portion E9.

The portion 19 is bifurcated as at 2B, and a small roller 2| ispivotally mounted between the bifurcated portions. The dimensions of theshank 18 are such as to permit it to slide freely in the perforation llof the plug l5, without, of course, turning therein; and the dimensionsof the portion H? are such as to permit this portion and the roller 2!to slide freely in the perforation [3 of the socket l.

. The complete assembly includes also a helical compression spring 22shown in Fig. 3, of a size to be positioned loosely within the bore l l.One end of this spring, as shown, engages against the plug I5; and theother presses against the plunger itself, engaging the shoulders l9a ofthe enlarged portion thereof.

In assembling this apparatus, it is possible to insert the spring 22 inthe bore l l and then screw in the plug l5, afterward inserting: theplunger of Fig. 4, shank end first, through the perforation in theportion l2 of the plunger socket, effecting an assembly as shown in Fig.3, where the The other end of the bore H is.

spring 22 in its action opposes movement of the plunger to the right.Obviously the axes of the perforations I3 and I1 will have to lie in thesame plane. Stop means may be provided upon the plunger for preventingthe withdrawal thereof toward the left, but such means will notordinarily be required since the contact means hereinafter to bedescribed, and which are subsequently attached to the plunger, servethis function. Shoulders may, however, be formed either upon the portionIE! or the portion I8 of the plunger, and the plunger assembled in thesocket by first placing the spring about the plunger shank and the plug|5 thereon, and then while compressing the spring so that the enlargedportion IQ of the plunger lies wholly within the socket, turning theplunger, thereby screwing the plug IS in place, and finally, when theparts are in alignment, permitting the portion 19 to come out throughthe perforation |3 in the larger socket.

To my base 4, in a position generally parallel with but interspaced fromthe bar 15, I prefer to attach a bar of insulating material 23. This maybe held in place by screws or bolts 24, or otherwise, and is providedwith grooves beneath, indicated at 24 in Fig. 1 for the accommodation ofcontact members 25. These contact members are conveniently in the formof strips of sheet brass passing beneath the bar 23 and held in clampedposition by set screws 26. The contact member has an upturned end 25aupon which I prefer to locate a contact point 21, which may be of somenon-oxidizing metal, such as platinum, or any of the suitable contactalloys.

A co-operating contact member 28, also preferably of sheet brass, isattached to the end of the plunger shank l8 as shown, and this contactmember may likewise have a non-oxidizing contact point 29. The contactpoints are so located with respect to each other that if the plungermoves to the left, they will eventually come into touching engagement,thereby completing an electric circuit through wires 30, 39a, etc.attached by any suitable means, such as soldering or otherwise, to thecontact members 25. A return or ground cable 3| is attached to the bar5, or the raised member 8 thereon.

To each of the register keys 2, having a shank 2a, I attach a cam orwedge member 32. My signaling device is so attached to a register, andthe various plunger sockets are so assembled, that one of the rollers 2|lies against the cam 32 of each of the keys 2. I usually prefer tofasten my device to the body of the register by means of suitable bolts,not shown, passing through the base plate 4 thereof. The position of theplunger sockets may be adjusted by means of the set screws 9, andlikewise the position of the contact members 25 may be adjusted by meansof the set screws 28. It will be clear from Fig. 3 that when the key 2is not depressed, i. e. when it is in its normal non-registeringposition, the wedge or cam 32 will hold the plunger, against the forceof spring 22, in a position toward the right, whereby the contacts 29and 21 are separated. If, however, the key 2 be depressed, the roller 2|will ride along the cam or wedge 32, and the plunger will move towardthe left under pressure of spring 22 until the contacts 29 and 21 arebrought together. At this point, of course, further movement will beprevented and an electrical circuit will be established between the leador wire 3| and the lead or wire 30, current being conducted through theplunger socket I and the plunger itself to the contact arm 28.

I prefer to mount a second bar 33 near the rear edge of my plate, whichbar may, if desired, be perforated for the passage of the wires 30, 30a,and etc. More particularly this bar forms a rear closure of my device sothat it is possible to place thereon a cover plate 33a, whereby themechanism is protected from dust, dirt and from unauthorizedmanipulation.

The cover 33a may be hinged at one end if desired and furnished with alock 33b. The aspect of the cover as preventing tampering with myapparatus is not particularly important, since although under somecircumstances it is possible to send a false signal, this signal can bedetected as false either by a visual examination of the vehicle which ispassing, or by means of checking the record of the register itselfagainst a record made by my signalling system. So long as the key 2remains in undepressed position, no contact can be made between thecontact points 29 and 21. It is possible to depress a key and fail tosend a signal by the act of holding the plunger against movement to theleft in Fig. 3, but this not only is diilicult in the form of my device,but does not avail the operator anything because of the other featuresof the check-up system, as will be apparent.

In the check-up room, as aforesaid, I provide a source of power whichmay be a transformer 34, the primary of which is fed from power leads35, and the secondary of which feeds main leads 38 and 31. Obviously anyother source of power may be employed. In the particular embodiment, Iprovide not only a switch 38 for the control of power, but also a pilotlight 39 connected across the leads 32 and 3'! which burns constantly solong as the power is on. The lead 36 is connected to the lead 3|, whichis the main or ground lead of my signalling apparatus, and the lead Siis connected to a common lead 48. The several signal leads 3!), 30a, andetc. from my signalling device are connected to this common lead 49through signalling and/or recording means. A convenient signalling meansis a lamp 4! which may be arranged to fiash behind a stencil or maskindicative of a figure corresponding to the figure on the register key.commercial operation I prefer to provide in addition to the lamp 4|, alamp Ma connected in arallel therewith, so that the burning out of onelamp will not throw my mechanism out of operation pending a replacement.The lamps 4| and Ma are connected in parallel, and likewise recordingmeans may be connected in parallel therewith, as by leads 42, whichleads may go to an electrical counting device of known or commercialform. One such counting device is illustrated in Fig. 3, and indicatedbroadly by the numeral 53. The same or different counting devices may beattached to each of the several signaling circuits. Instead of countingdevices, I may employ a device or series of devices to make any othersort of continuous record.

In the operation of my device, in the particular circumstances of theexemplary embodiment, the operators collecting the toll, register saidtoll upon the cash registers. My signalling system at the same timeeffects in the observation room aforesaid an indication of theparticular amount rung up on the cash register, which is at the sametime an indication of the type of vehicle upon which the toll iscollected. An observer in the observation room can see the vehicle as itpasses and can verify whether or not the appropriate amount has beenrung up, thus preventing intentional fraud or unintentional inaccuracy.In the commercial operation of my device it has not been found possibleto operate cording apparatus in the observation chamber,

keeping a total of the amounts rung up, of various characters, will haveto coincide at the end of any given period with the total of the amountsrung up on the cash register, and with the total receipts turned over bythe operator. Consequently as respects deliberate fraud, it avails theoperator nothing to be able to signal correctly while ringing upincorrect amounts upon the cash register. It will obviously not benecessary for an observer to be at all times stationed in theobservation chamber if the object is to prevent deliberate fraud, sincethe presence or absence of the observer from the observation chamber isnot known to the operator who collects the tolls. Consequently, theoperator, knowing that he is frequently under observation, and notknowing when he is not under observation, will be under considerablepressure to be accurate in his work.

It will be clear that my invention is not restricted in its" utility tothe particular exemplary circumstances in connection with which oneembodiment of it has been described. It will be useful in a very widevariety of situations where a check-up upon the recording of periodictransactions is desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:-

'1. In combination with a registering device having movable keys,electric signaling means including spring actuated plungers slidablelaterally to the line of movement of the keys and bearing contactmembers, co-cperating contact members, and wedge shaped cams on theshanks of said keys adapted to wedge said contacts into open positionwhen said keys are undepressed.

2. In combination with a registering device, having a plurality ofmovable keys, electric signaling means including a plate for attachmentto said device, a plurality of contact actuating members mounted on saidplate and having spring pressed plungers slidable laterally to the lineof movement of the keys and bearing contact members, co-operatingcontact members on said plate, wedge shaped cams on the shanks of saidkeys for engaging and controlling said plungers and a cover for saidplate.

3. In combination with a registering device having depressible keys, aplate for attachment to said registering device, contact actuatingmembers movable laterally to the line of movement of the keys, contactsassociated with said plate and wedge shaped cams on said keys, thevarious parts being so related that said contacts are wedged open bysaid cams to close when the keys are depressed.

4. In combination with a registering device having movable keys, camsassociated with said keys, a plate shaped for attachment to said device,means on said plate for holding contact actuating devices movablelaterally to the line of movement of the keys, a plurality of contactactuating devices held by said means and bearing contacts, co-operatingcontacts mounted on said plate, and cover means for said plate, saidkeys having cams so arranged that said contacts may be allowed to closeby said cams only upon depressing said keys.

5. In combination with a registering device having movable keys, a platefor external at tachment to said device adjacent said keys, clampingmeans on said plate, a plurality of contact actuating devices held bysaid clamping means, each of said devices comprising a block having abore closed at one end, a perforation through said closure, a plungerextending through said perforation movable laterally to the line ofmovement of the keys, means for closing the other end of said bore andspring means Within said bore for actuating said plunger, contactmembers associated with said plungers and contact members associatedwith said plate and cam means mounted on said shanks of keys forcontrolling operation of said plungers.

6. In combination with a registering device having a movable key with acam, a block having a bore therein closed at one end, a slot throughsaid closed end portion, a threaded plug for the other end of said boreand a slot of less length than said first mentioned slot through saidplug,

plunger means of bar form having a wide and a narrow portion demarked byshoulders, said Wide and narrow portions being respectively of sizes topass through said slots, a roller journaled in said wide portion, andspring means for engaging said shoulders and said plug pressing saidroller against said cam, a plate, and clamping means on said plate foradjustably holding said Contact actuating mechanism, for a desireddegree of movement of the plunger relative to the cam.

7. In combination with a registering device spectively of sizes to passthrough said slots, and

spring means for engaging said shoulders and said plug, an end of saidplunger projecting beyond the end of said block and bearing a rollor incontact with said cam, an end of said plunger projecting beyond saidplug and bearing a contact member, a plate, clamping means on said platefor adjustably holding said contact actuating mechanism, for a desireddegree of movement of the plunger relative to the cam, and aco-operating contact member adjustably associated with said plate.

8. In combination with a registering device having a movable key with acam, a block. having a bore therein closed at one end, a slot throughsaid closed end portion, a threaded plug for the other end of said boreand a slot of less length than said first mentioned slot through saidplug, plunger means of bar form having a wide and a narrow portiondemarked by shoulders, said wide and narrow portions being respectivelyof sizes to pass through said slots, and spring means for engaging saidshoulders and said plug, an end of said plunger projecting beyond theend or" said block and bearing a roller in contact with said cam, an endof said plunger projecting beyond said plug and bearing a contactmember, a plate shaped for attachment to said registering device, meansat one edge of said plate for holding said contact actuating mechanismadjustably, and an interspaced block on said plate for adjustablyholding a co-operating contact member.

9. In combination with a registering device having a movable key with acam, a block having a bore therein closed at one end, a slot throughsaid closed end portion, a threaded plug for the other end of said boreand a slot of less length than said first mentioned slot through saidplug, plunger means of bar form having a wide and a narrow portiondemarked by shoulders, said wide and narrow portions being respectivelyof sizes to pass through said slots, and spring means for engaging saidshoulders and said plug, an end of said plunger projecting beyond theend of said block and bearing a roller in contact with said cam, an endof said plunger projecting beyond said plug and bearing a contactmember, a plate shaped for attachment to said registering device, meansat one edge of said plate for holding said contact actuating mechanismadjustably, an interspaced block on said plate for adjustably holding aco-operating contact member, a block at the opposite edge of said plateadapted to form an edgewise closure, and a cover plate extending betweensaid block and said clamping means.

10. In combination with a registering device 30 having movable keys,cams associated with said keys, a plate shaped for attachment to saiddevice, means on said plate for holding contact actuating devices, aplurality of contact actuating devices slidable laterally to said keysheld by said means and bearing contacts, cooperating contacts mounted onsaid plate, and cover means for said plate, said elements being soarranged that said cams hold said contacts open, so that said contactsmay be closed only upon depressing said keys, electrical circuitsassociated with said contact actuating means, and a visual indicator ata distance from said registering device actuated by said circuits.

11. In combination with a registering device having movable keys, camsassociated with said keys, a plate shaped for attachment to said device,means on said plate for holding contact actuating devices, a pluralityof contact actuating devices held by said means and bearing contacts,co-operating contacts mounted on said plate, and cover means for saidplate, the parts being so arranged that said contacts may be allowed toclose only by action of said cams upon depressing said keys, electricalcircuits associated with said contact actuating means, and a visualindicator at a distance from said registering device actuated by saidcircuits, and electrical counting devices also associated with saidcircuits.

ANTHONY J. PRUES.

